Spicebush Swallowtail vs Cypress Bark Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spicebush Swallowtail Cypress Bark Moth
Scientific Name Papilio troilus Laspeyresia cupressana
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Papilionidae Tortricidae
Size Wingspan 90-130mm 12–18 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Gardens
Diet Herbivores Wood Feeders
Regions North America Mediterranean Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Spicebush Swallowtail

A dark swallowtail butterfly with blue-green hindwing scaling and orange spots. Its caterpillar has large false eyespots making it resemble a small snake.

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Did You Know?

The young caterpillar mimics a bird dropping while the older caterpillar switches to mimicking a green tree snake.

Cypress Bark Moth

A small moth whose larvae bore beneath the bark of cypress and juniper trees. It can cause significant damage to ornamental cypress plantings.

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Did You Know?

Heavy infestations cause extensive resin bleeding on cypress trunks, creating conspicuous white patches.